The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Blue (10/08/09)
“What is that you're wearing?” the man asked as he ushered me to the pew. I peered at my shirt to make sure there wasn't a hint of breakfast on it.

“Uh, this old thing?” I queried back at him as I tugged on my top.

“No,” the man with the kind eyes answered. “That beautiful aroma!”

“Oh!” I responded, as I felt a blush come on. “It's just this little blue bottle of perfume I wear everyday!” I exclaimed as I rushed to the seat next to my husband.

I knew the usher and his wife. They were a precious couple that had shared their testimony with the church about how they witnessed their young daughter perish in a sledding accident. She died suddenly like my late husband did in a plane crash many years ago.

Engrossed about all our experiences of loss, I left the church clinging to my husband's arm in a melancholy stupor.
~

The stands at choir practice were getting full. Shoulder to shoulder, we were going to sweat out our praise and worship during practice. I stood in the alto section on stage left. The tenors stood in the middle, and the sopranos were on the right.

As we all crowded in, the usher from the other day arrived with his wife. A tenor and an alto. I was surrounded by them both. I quickly recalled our conversation as the tall tenor moved in close for a sniff!

“There it is!” He exclaimed with a goofy grin on his face. He was also on the drama team, so I knew he had a sense of humor. The music began and the perspiration ensued.

~

I was back stage before service with the rest of the choir. The drama team-tenor singing-seating usher arrived holding his spouse's hand. They passed me up, but then he broke free and came up to me like he was going to tell me a secret. He ran back to his wife with that same wacky expression on his face from the other day.

I put a determined grin on my own mug and walked up the ramp towards the duo. It was the right time to tell the story about the little blue bottle. We had two minutes before the clock would tick down signaling the moment we would need to hit the stage.

I knew I had to be fast, but I wanted to also share my heart. Not an easy thing to do when time is of the essence, so I said a quick prayer for the Lord to be with me.

“As I was journaling the other night,” I explained to the couple when I got their attention. “I recalled the first time my late husband told me about the perfume I am wearing.”

I hurriedly told them about his small plane crash. The accident happened five months before our fourth anniversary.

“A package arrived in the mail,” I continued. I started to choke up as I recalled this part of the story. I could see concern in the eyes of my two listeners. The clock was tick, ticking down. I had only seconds to get my point across.

“I opened the card first,” I said as tears stung at my eyes. “It said; 'You don't know me, but I used to work with your husband. I was on maternity leave when I heard about his passing. I am so sorry for your loss. I was hoping this gift would reach you on your anniversary as I know he gave this to you every year...'”

I realized at the time exactly who this woman was that I never met. She was the scented lady from the elevator! I didn't have to voice that to the couple standing in front of me. His mate brushed away at a tear.

“I tore into the package knowing what it was going to be. The little blue bottle of perfume stared at me with its sweet-smelling, familiar fragrance. I've been wearing it ever since.”

The music swelled as our choir started filing out under the spotlights. The mournful husband and wife led the way as we took the stands to worship the God that brings peace and healing; along with a pleasing aroma from the little blue bottle.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 515 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Rachel Phelps
10/18/09
I think a few pieces of information are missing from this story, because I read it several times and still feel slightly confused. I loved the characters you created, though, and wanted to know more about them. Imaginative use of the prompt!
Anita van der Elst
10/18/09
Ok, I thought it was me that was missing something. There is some good writing here but I agree with the above comment. Something is missing in the story.
Danielle King 
10/20/09
I think the scented lady was someone your MC's first husband had met in a lift, liked her perfume, asked what it was and then dashed off to buy his wife some. That's why she knew what to send on the anniversary. I think! Well that's the way it came accross to me. Perhaps you were running out of words to fit more detail in. Nice story though.
Mona Purvis
10/21/09
I am confused as well. I thought the husband had an affair, bought perfume for the other woman and the maternity lady had the wife and other woman mixed up.
I'm probably wrong since wife is wearing perfume.
Mona